What if you can’t find your ball in leaves or deep rough?
By The Fairway Labs TeamReviewed
Off the tee & lost balls
Penalty: Stroke and distance
What if you can’t find your ball in leaves or deep rough?
PenaltyStroke and distance· under Rule 18.2
What to do
- 1Search thoroughly for three minutes, including carefully in leaves or rough.
- 2Check the local rules sheet for a leaf-litter or ‘ball lost in leaves’ relief rule.
- 3Without a local rule, treat it as lost: stroke and distance from your previous spot.
- 4Play a provisional ball first if you suspect this might happen.
Based on the modern Rules of Golf (Rule 18.2), as published by the USGA and The R&A and effective from the 2019 revision. Local rules can modify some situations — check the scorecard or with the committee when in doubt.
Related rulings
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